Our mission is to help youth achieve functional wellness in a dysfunctional world through artistic expression, therapeutic intervention, play, life skills programs, mentoring and more.

Our Story

Co-founders Julie Nowacki and Marian Stiegeler, LPC, MS-MHC, QMHP, CMHIMP have combined their individual passions to help children and teens who are suffering from emotional and social issues. Julie has 20 plus years helping manage singer/songwriters and is very passionate about seeing others pursue their dreams. She had a very close family member, Rod, who suffered from mental illness take his own life in October of 2016. This tragic event inspired Julie to use her experience to address the mental health crisis nationwide and especially in her own community. Her vision to implement a safe place where kids of all ages could come and express themselves while increasing their social and emotional intelligence inspired her to start having conversations with professionals and artists in the area. As a licensed professional counselor, Marian also has a passion for helping children. She has received training and valuable experience with children and families that has prepared her for this opportunity with ElRod Center. . So, when Julie and Marian met in Eugene, Oregon–they found that although their individual visions were incomplete, together their visions made one complete and beautiful dream! And with that, the ElRod Center in memory of Julie’s family member was born!